Heater for electric toasters



May 27, 1952 I-"I. L. OLSON ET AL HEATER FOR ELECTRIC TOASTERS Filed D60. 2, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l MINI} NRY L. OLSON WILLIAM F. HALE ROBERT A. MILLER 35% MMX I I AT RNEYS May 27, 1952 H. L. OLSON ET AL 2,598,592

HEATER FOR ELECTRIC TOASTERS Filed Dec. 2, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 3| ,IIIIMIIIIII 5 Ulll I I/J HENRY L. Guam 1? WILLIAM F. HALE ROBERT A. MILLER mlgi ATTORNEYS i atented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATER FOR, ELECTRIC TOASTERS poration of Michigan Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,762 6 Claims. (01. 219-49) Our invention relates to electric toasters and particularly to a heater for use in an electric toaster.

An object of the invention resides in providing the heater with a metal frame on which a heating element constructed from a length of resistance wire is supported.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the frame from a sheet of metal to provide a back having flanges at the lateral edges thereof and extending outwardly from the face oi the back.

A still further object of the invention resides in attaching to the flanges insulating strips of sheet insulation to which the heating element is secured.

An object of the invention resides in providing the insulating strips with notches at their outermost edges forming teeth and in looping the heating element about said teeth to form in the heating element reaches spaced from one another and from the face of the back.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the flanges with notches registering with the notches of the insulating strips and disposed inwardly therefrom to cause the reaches of the heating element to clear the metal of the flanges and to form on the flanges teeth reinforcing the teeth of the insulating strips.

Another object of the invention resides in forming the face of the back with a reflecting surface.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing on the back ears projecting outwardly from the face of the same a distance greater than the projection of the heating element therefrom and in winding on said ears guide wires spaced from the heating elements.

Another object of the invention resides in mounting on a support in the toaster two heaters with the faces of the backs of the same facing one another and in spacing the guide wires thereof to form a toasting chamber for the reception of a slice of bread.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

The heater disclosed in the drawings comprises a frame constructed of sheet metal and formed with a back substantially rectangular in form and adapted to be disposed in a substantially vertical position. This back has a face and a rear surface and the face thereof is constructed to form a reflector. Issuing outwardly from the lateral edges of the back are two flanges which extend away from the face of the back and form with said face an obtuse angle. These flanges have attached to the rear surface thereof insulating strips which are constructed with spaced notches forming spaced teeth extending outward 1y beyond the free edges of the flanges. A heating element consisting of a length of resistance wire is looped about alternate teeth to' form reaches, spaced from one another and from the back and overlying the face thereof. At the upper and lower ends of the back are provided cars which extend outwardly beyond the heating element. A guide wire is looped about these cars to form vertical guides to guide the slices of bread into position adjacent the heating elements and to hold the bread out of direct engagement with the heating elements. The heaters are arranged in pairs in the toaster with the faces of the heaters in each pair facing one another and with the guide wires spaced to provide toasting chambers therebetween.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a toaster illustrating an embodiment of my invention with portions of the toaster broken away to illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the toaster shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away to illustrate the heaters. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional'view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the heater assembly of the toaster removed from the toaster.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention we have shown in the drawings a case It constructed with a lower section II and an upper section [2. The lower section has a lateral wall structure [3 which extends about the case and is open at the top and bottom. At the lowermost portion of the said wall structure is formed an inwardly turned flange M on which the toaster mechanism is supported; The upper marginal portion of the wall structure I3 is constructed with an offset I5 forming a rabbet l6 extending about the lower section. The upper section I? of the case is dome-shaped in form and has a top I! and a lateral wall structure [8. The lower marginal portion IQ of the lateral wall structure I8 is received within the rabbet I6 and the parts are secured together in any suitable manner. Plastic ornaments 12 secured to the ends of the wall structure [3 of case section II project below the lowermost portion thereof and form feet for supporting the toaster proper above the table or counter on which the toaster rests.

'wardly from the back 35. I stiffened by means of reinforcing-ribs 33 pressed Within the case It is located an inverted U-shaped framework 28. This framework includes a top wall 2| and end walls 22 and 23 which extend vertically downwardly from the top wall 2|. The walls 22 and 23 are formed with outwardly turned flanges 24 which rest upon the flange M and are secured thereto by means of screws 25. In the top wall 2| are formed openings 25 which are surrounded by an upturned flange 21. the upper section l2 of case it register with the openings 26. The top I! is formed with downwardly turned lips 29 which encircle the openings 2B and fit into the flanges 27 to hold the upper portion of the case It and'the upper portion of the framework 25 in proper relation. The openings 25 and 28 register with bread ovens formed in the framework 28 which will be further described in detail.

In the toaster in which the instant invention cipally to the heater 30. This heater consists of 7 a metal frame 34 constructed of aluminum or some other metal on which a polished surface may be formed. The said metal frame is constructed with a back 35 having'flanges 33 and 31 bent outwardly therefrom at a slight angle to bring the'edges of said flanges spaced out- The entire frame is into the said back and extending vertically with reference thereto and parallel to the flanges and 31. The back 35 has a face it and a rear surface Tl. v I

Attached to the rear surfaces of the flanges 36 and 31 are insulating strips 39 and as constructed from sheet insulating material which are secured to said flanges bymeans of rivets 4|. These strips extend outwardly beyond the edges of the flanges 35 and 32 and are formed with a series of spaced notches 42 which leave teeth 43 therebetween. Similarnotches 44 but gated conductor of resistance wire which is successively wound across the two insulating strips 39 and A threading the same through the n notches 42 in said insulating strips to form spaced reaches 46, and placing the portions of the wire between reaches on the back side of said'insulating strips and across the lugs 43. This spaces the reaches 46 from the back 35 and insulates said heating element from the frame 3%. The face of the back is-suitablypolished to form a reflector whereby the heat from the heating element 45 is reflected in a direction away'from the back 35. At the lower ends of the flanges 35 and 31, the metal thereof is removed to leave end portions 41 on the insulating strips 39 and to which suitable terminals may be attached.

The ends of the heating elements 5 "of the 7 two heaters 30 and 35 are'connected to a bus bar 48 which has ears 4.9 bent upwardly therefrom Screws 5%] extend Similar openings 23 in the top if of 1 Said teeth are disposed inwardly of .2

through the insulating-strips 3'9 and are screwed into the earsss. The ends of the he'ating'lal'ements are clamped between the end portions 4'! and the screws and form an electrical contact therewith. The two heaters 3| and 32 are similarly supported on bus bars 5| which have ears 52 turned upwardly therefrom. These ears are secured'to the lower portions ll of the heaters 3| and 32 and are secured thereto by means of screws 7 1 which extend through said portions of the insulating strips and are threaded into said ears. The ends of the conductor forming the heating elements 45 of the said heaters are similarly connected to the bus bars 5!.

The heaters 5 3 and 5| are arranged with the heating elements 45 thereof facing one another andlikewise the heaters 32 and 33 are similarly located. The parts are spaced by means of the bus bars 48 and5l so that two toasting chambers or ovens 58 and 59 are formed between said heaters and which, when the heaters are prop' erly installed in the toaster, register with the openings 25 and 28 in the case section l2 and top 2| of the framework 25 so that slices of bread may be inserted into the toasting chambers 58 and 55 and through said openings.

The method of supporting the heaters is as follows: At the upper portion of the back of the frame 34 is formed an inwardly turned flange 53. This flange near its ends is formed with two rectangular holes I5 1. Opposite the holes in the flanges 53 and in the top wall 2| of framework 2! is'formed T-shapedholes 5 3. Buttons 55 of insulating material are inserted into the enlarged portions of the said holes. These buttons havegrooves 55 which are adapted to receive the marginal portions of the said top wall when the said buttons are moved toward the reduced portions of the holes 54. The said buttons have stems 57 which extend downwardly into'the holes5G in the flanges 53 and which sup port the upper portions of the entire heater and hold the same in proper position.

The lower portion of the'heater is supported in the following manner: In the sidewalls 22 and 23 are formed openings 55. In these openings are inserted insulating bushings 5! which support terminal strips 62. These strips extend through the said bushings and are formed with offsets 62 which are secured to the bus bars is by means of screws 65. The said terminals may be connected to the wiring of the toaster and serve to energize the heating elements 25.

To prevent the bread from coming in direct contact with the heating elements, guide wires are employed which guide the toast into position in the toasting chambers 58 and and which are mounted'on the frames 35. At the lower portion-of the back 35 of the frame 34 are formed outwardly turned ears These ears have downwardly extending notches 66 in the same. Corresponding ears 5? are formed on the flange 53. These ears have laterally extending openings E58 and notches 59 formed at the forward edges of the same. A single piece of wire it is attached atone end to one of the ears and is successively wound from the said ears to the cars 6'1. The said Wire is inserted into the openings 58 and follows along the notches 69 to form spaced reaches 7| which lie flush with the outermost portions of the ears 6'1. The reaches are spaced from the heating elements '45 and form guides for guiding the bread into the'chambers 58 and Hand support the bread in'upright posi tion and in spaced relation to the said heating elements.

Theadv'antages -01 the invention "are manifest.

Each heater becomes a complete unit including a support, heating element and guide. The parts are hence held in proper relation to one another. With the invention the part are easily assembled and remain in position. Ther are no loose parts to rattle. By use of the fine wire for the guide wires streaks on the toast are prevented. Due to the reflectors employed the heat is directed toward the toast and less current is consumed and the toaster runs cooler. By constructing the frame from metal small strips of insulation may be employed and the cost of insulation greatly reduced. The entire heater assembly may be removed without disconnecting the various heaters from one another.

Changes in the specific form of our invention, as herein described, may be made within the scop of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim a new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toaster a support, a heater carried thereby and comprising a block for disposition in a vertical plane and having a face, flanges at the lateral edges of the back and extending outwardly from said face, insulators secured to said flanges and having projections located near the free edges of said flanges, a heating element comprising a length of resistance wire looped about said projections and forming reaches spaced from one another and from the face of said back, ears disposed at th upper and lower edges of said back and extending outwardly from said face, and guide wires carried by said ears and extending in an up and down direction, said guide wires being spaced outwardly of said heating element, and a second heater carried by said support similar to said first heater and disposed with its face facing the face of said first heater and with the guide wires thereof spaced from the guide wires of said first heater to form a toasting chamber therebetween, the flanges of the opposed heaters extending towards one another to partially enclose the space between the backs of the heaters at the ends of the same.

2. In a toaster a support, a heater carried thereby and comprising a back for disposition in a vertical plane and having a face, flanges at the lateral edges of the back and extending outwardly from said face, insulators secured to said flanges and having projections located near the free edges of said flanges, a heating element comprising a length of resistance wire looped about said projection and forming reaches spaced from one another and from the face of said back, ears disposed at the upper and lower edges of said back and extending outwardly from said face, and guide wires carried by said ears and extending in an up and down direction, said guide wires being spaced outwardly of said heating element, and a second heater carried by said support similar to said first heater and disposed with its face facing the face of said first heater and with the guide wires thereof spaced from the guide wires of said first heater to form a toasting chamber therebetween, and reflectors formed on the inner surface of said backs, said reflectors facing one another.

3. In a toaster a support, a heater carried thereby and comprising a back having a rear surface and a face, flanges at the lateral edges of the back and extending outwardly from said face, said flanges having rear surfaces corresponding to the rear surface of said back, strips of sheet insulation overlying the rear surfaces of said flanges and secured thereto, the marginal edges of said strips extending outwardly beyond the marginal edges of said flanges, notches in the marginal portions of said strips of insulation and forming therein teeth, notches in the marginal portions of said flanges registering with the notches of the strips and forming teeth therein overlying the teeth of the strips and reinforcing th same, the edges of the teeth of the flanges lying inwardly of the edges of the teeth of the strips and a heating element comprising a length of resistance wire looped about alternate teeth of said strips of insulation and forming reaches spaced from one another by virtue of said notches and from the face of said back by virtue of said flanges.

4. In a toaster a support, a heater carried thereby and comprising a back having a rear surface and a face, flanges at the lateral edges of the back and extending outwardly from said face said flanges forming an obtuse angle therewith and having rear surfaces corresponding to the rear surface of said back, strips of sheet insulation overlying the rear surfaces of said flanges and secured thereto, the marginal edges of said strips extending outwardly beyond the marginal edges of said flanges, notches in the marginal portions of said strips of insulation and forming therein teeth, notches in the marginal portions of said flanges registering with the notches of the strips and forming teeth therein overlying the teeth of the strips and reinforcing the same, the edges of the teeth of the flanges lying inwardly of the edges of the teeth of the strips and a heating element comprising a length of resistance wire looped about alternate teeth of said strips of insulation and forming reaches spaced from one another by virtue of said notches and from the face of said back by virtue of said flanges, the angularity of said flanges urging the looped portions of said resistance Wire into the notches of said strips.

5. In a toaster a support, a heater carried thereby and comprising a back for disposition in a vertical plane and having a face, flanges at the lateral edges of the back integral therewith and extending outwardly from said face, insulators secured to said flanges and having projections located near the free edges of said flanges, a heating element comprising a length of resistance wire looped about said projections and forming reaches spaced from one another and from the face of said back, ears disposed at the upper and lower edges of said back and integral therewith and extending outwardly from said face and from the same side thereof as said flanges, and guide wires carried by said ears and extending in an up and down direction, said guide wires being spaced outwardly of said heating element, and a second heater carried by said support and similar to said first heater and disposed with its face facing the face of said first heater and with the guide wires thereof spaced from the guide wires of said first heater to form a toasting chamber therebetween.

6. In a toaster a frame having spaced vertical planiform end frame members, insulators mounted in said frame members and disposed near the lower portions thereof, terminals carried by said insulators and having flat horizontal portions projecting into the space between said end frame members, a bus bar overlying the flat portions of the terminals on each end frame member, screws engaging said terminals and bus bars and holding the bus bars attached to said firmer? 'sai'd' bus ba-rs, the 'ears' onone J bus bar 'lying opposite'the ears ontheother busbar, a-plurality of heaters each "having a planiforl'n vertical back with fiangesa t the vertical edges thereof, strips 'o'ffin'suhting material overlying said-flanges and "being connected fio-an ear of one of said bus ba-rs aridth'e'other end 'to aln ear on the-other bus bar.

HENRY -L. OLSON. WILLIAM F. HALE. ROBERT A. =1 .(ILLER.

REFEREN0ES *CI PED 7 The following r'eferefices"are of record in the fiie of "this patent:

UNITE-D STATES PATENTS 

